Historic Sites of Manitoba: Emerson Telephone Exchange Building (15 Main Street, Emerson, Municipality of Emerson-Franklin)

This small brick building on Main Street in Emerson was designed by architect Alexander D. Melville and erected in 1928 by contractor Alfred Henry Bears for the Manitoba Telephone System. It was vacant at the time of a 2020 site visit. The cast-iron fence in front of the building is original.

Telephone Exchange Building at Emerson

Telephone Exchange Building at Emerson (circa 1928)
Source: Manitoba Telephone System Collection #24, Archives of Manitoba

Telephone Exchange Building at Emerson

Telephone Exchange Building at Emerson (April 2020)
Source: George Penner

Telephone Exchange Building at Emerson

Telephone Exchange Building at Emerson (February 2023)
Source: Jordan Makichuk

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.00646, W97.21541
denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Alexander D. Melville (1873-1949)

Memorable Manitobans: Alfred Henry Bears (1857-1936)

MHS Centennial Business: Manitoba Government Telephones / Manitoba Telephone System / MTS Allstream / Bell MTS

Sources:

“Tenders,” Manitoba Free Press, 18 July 1928, page 17.

“Telephone system to build six Exchanges,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 July 1928, page 5.

We thank Wayne Arseny for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by George Penner, Gordon Goldsborough, and Jordan Makichuk.

Page revised: 17 March 2023

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